COOL Desserts for Your Summer Choice!

With the most scorching days in summer coming, what is your choice to clear away the summer heat? Believe it or not, you may even not afford popsicles these days!

Premium popsicles in China are nicknamed assassins because they can cost up to $10 or even much higher and slay your wallet at the cashier!

“Popsicles assassins” (Photo by: 每天都好饿)

Rather than being stabbed by dear popsicles, why not try some COOL desserts in Sichuan?

A sweet snack originated from Yibin City, Lianggao or Cold Cake, is so beloved to balance heat or spiciness out. There is actually an entire street dedicated to this snack in Shuanghe Town where it was invented.

Lianggao (Photo by: hanly)

According to the traditional production method, it mainly involves pressing and grinding soaked sticky rice into milk, and then stirring that rice milk along with some alkaline solution into boiling water, which would then be left to settle into cake.

If the Lianggao is squeezed into the shape of shrimps before cooling down, it turns into another famous dessert, Liangxia, which in Chinese means “cold shrimp”.

Liangxia (Photo by: sunnieo0)

The final product is kind of jiggly and has a custard- or pudding-like texture, similar to a panna cotta, but lighter. It looks pretty creamy, but not in a dairy sort of way.

The Lianggao or LIangxia itself has a very subtle rice sweetness though, it’s always served with a sauce. The most classic choice is the brown sugar syrup. In this combination, maybe it reminds you of creme caramel.

Lianggao (Photo by: 生活向阳处)

But nowadays there are fruit jams like of lemon or mango, and with all sorts of different fruit and nuts toppings. Heard you can even make it numb and spicy! Sichuanese just can’t get enough of the spicy flavor, even with a dessert! Dare to come and have a try?

Spicy Lianggao (Photo by: Bee酱在吗)

See you next time, and today, You Look Yummy!